Indicator motor



Apr. 17, 1923.

C. J. HENSCHEL INDICATOR MOTOR I Filed Sept.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Apr. 17, 1923.

C. J. HENSCHEL INDICATOR MOTOR Filed Sept. 18, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m4 T W V m% M a M w ATTORNEY,

Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES CHARLES J. HENSCHEL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

r'nnroa'ron MOTOR.

Application filed September 18, 1920. Serial No. 411,067.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CHARLns J, I-Inxscrnn a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State 5 of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator Motors, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise description.

illy invention relates to indicator motors; 1 that is, to motors used for actuating indicators, and for this purposecontrollable elec trically. from a distance.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends an electrically operated motor 15 of the kind just mentioned, and in which an armature is controllable by the conjoint etfect of a number of'magnets or equivalent magnetic members.

Among the objects I seek to accomplish by my invention are the following:

I. To reduce to a minimum the number of magnets or equivalent magnetic members necessary for conferring upon the motor armature a given number of determinate positions.- I

II. To simplify the construction of the motor. and to confer upon many or its parts such form as to enable them to be made easily, and readily standardized.

III. To give the motor such form that the motor armature and parts immediately associated therewith may as a unit be removable and replaceable relatively to the rest of the motor mechanism.

IV. To equalize the magnetic flux through the difierent magnets or equivalent magnetic members;

V. To lessen the weight of the motor and increase the compactness thereof, other factors being equal.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures. 1 h

Figure 1 is a View partly in plan and showing my improved indicator motor,'certain parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and so partly in elevation, showing the mechanism of the indicator motor.

.Figure 3 isa perspective of the motor armature. I

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective of 55 the indicator :motor and the transmitting switch for controlling the same, and shows the electrical connections from the transmitting switch to the indicator motor.

Figure 5 is a perspective of one of the pole plates, and shows it as partly broken away.

A base plate appears at 6, and is made of insulating material. Resting upon this base plate is an end plate 7, made of soft iron or steel. Above the end plate are magnets S, 9, 10, 11, 12'. Each magnet is provided with a core 13, held in position upon the base plate by a bolt 14.

The core 13 supports a bolt 15, which is pro vided with a threaded portion 16 fitting into the upper end of the core, as indicated at the right of Figure 2. The bolt is .further provided with a threaded portion 17, and fitted upon this threaded portion is a nut 18. There are five of the bolts 15, and

associated with them are five spacing sleeves 19. 20, 2'1, 22, 23, eachsleeve encircling a bolt. This may be understood from the right of Figure 2, the spacing sleeve 20, as fitted upon its bolt 15, being typical of the spacing sleeves 19, 21, 22 and 23.

The spacing sleeves 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, carry upon their upper ends a number of pole pieces 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, equal to the number of the spacing sleeves. They also carry upon their lower ends an equal number of pole pieces 29, 30, 31, 32, The spacing sleeves and'pole pieces are made of soft iron or steel, and thus are easily magnetized and demagnetized.

Closely associated with the pole pieces are supporting plates34, 85, 36, 37, made of non-magnetic metal, such as brass or aluminum. The pole pieces 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 are secured to the supporting plate 34 by means of rivets 39. and the pole pieces 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 are similarly secured to the supporting plate 37 by means of rivets 38.

Connected with the supporting plates 35 and 36, and extending therebetween, is a spacing tube 40, and encircling this spacing tube and abutting the supporting plates 35 and 36 is a winding 41.

Extending through the spacing tube 40 andjournaled to the spacing plates 3 1 and 37'is a revoluble armature 41,'made of a single integral rod of soft iron or steel.

' Mounted rigidly upon the armature 41, and

thus carried thereby, are two pole. pieces 42, 43, the pole piece 12 being at the top of the armature and the pole piece 43 being at the bottom thereof, the two pole pieces extending radially from the armature and in llU and movable relatively to a fixed dial 45,

this pointer and dial being of the usual or any desired construction.

The supporting plates 35, 36, 37, and the'various parts in immediate connection therewith may as a whole be treated as a unit, and thus removed or replaced bodily. in other words, all or" the mechanism above the cores 13 andincluding the armature and its mountings, may be readily taken off and put back, as the operator may desire.

The parts above described constltutethe n'icchanism of the indicator,

Connected-with the variousma 'nets 8,- 9,

D 10, 11, 12 are wires46, 47. 48, 49, 50, which leadto a transmitting switch 51, shown diagrammatically in the lower" portion oi Figure 4. The. transmittingswitch is provided with a number of stationary contact sectors 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, with which the wires just mentionedjare respectively connected. Also connected with the magnetsS, 9, 10,11, 12 are -wires 57, as, 59, 60, 61; A. wire 62is connected to the two wires 57, 58, and also to the wirel59. A wire 63 is connected tothe two wires-'59 and 62, and also to the two wires 60 and 61.

The transmitting switch 51 is provided with two stationary contact rings 64, 65, and

slida-bly engaging these contact rings are two contact pins 66, 67. The contact pin 66 is carried by a movable metallic sector 68, the contact pin6'T being similarly carried by amovable contact sector 69, the two sectors 68 and 69 being insulated from each'other but rigidly connected together and constituting a switch arm. The sector'68 carries two contact pins 70, 71, and the sector 69 carries two other contact pins 72, 73. The parts justdescribed are so proportioned and arranged that the various contact pins 70,

71,72. 73 can make and break contact with the various sectors 52, 53, 54, 55. 56 as the switch arm 15 rocked'or turned, the contact pins 66, 67, being at all times in engagement with the contact rings 64, 65,respectively.

A pair of direct current leads are shownat 74, 7 5, and are respectively positive and negative. as indicated by plus and minus signs. Fro-m the'lead' 74 a wire 76 leads to the contact ring 65, and from the lead 75 a wire 77 leads to the contact ring 64. Connected with the lead 74 and the wire 76 is a wire 78, which leads to the armature wind ing 41." Connected with this armature wind ing is another wire 7 9, which is connected with the 'wire 77 and the lead 75'. r

In order to facilitate an understanding of my invention, it may be Well 0 Hate that with the wiringarranged as here shown, and with the winding 41 constantly energized by acurrent flowing through it and always in the same direction, the polarity of the armature 41 and that of the two pole pieces 42 and 43 remains unchanged for all positions into which the armature, may be turned. That is to say, the polarity of the polepiece 4-2 is always different from that of the pole piece 43, but the polarity of either pole piece is constant and unchanging. For this purpose a circuit may be'traced through the pieces in question. \Vhile, therefore, each pole piece 24,25, 26, 27, 28 is from time to time reversed inits polarity, this is likewise true of each companion pole piece 29, 30, 31, 31, 32', so that at anygiven moment the polarity of. any particular pole piece is the same as that of thecompanion pole piece. For instance if at a. particular moment the pole piece 25 has a given polarity-say that of the north-seeking pole of a compass needle, the pole piece 30 necessarily has that same polarity and wheneverthe pole piece 25 is demagnetized or its polarity is reversed, this is also true of the pole piece. 30.

Owing to the manner in which thepole pieces 42 and 43 are mounted uponthe revoluble armature 41, however, it can never happen that both ofthesepolepieces are at the same exact instant extended into close proximity to the pole pieces of the same in dividual magnetfi For instance if the pole piece 42 is in close proximity to-the pole piece 25, as indicated in Figure 4, the'pole piece 43 can not be at the same time in close proximity to the polepiece 30. It follows as a consequence that any given magnet 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, when energized, must causeone, but not both, of the pole pieces 42,43, to be attracted, and that the direction of the current through the given magnet will determine whichof the two pole pieces 42 or 43' is the one to be thus attracted. It also follows that the entire strength f the magnet is used in thus attracting the revoluble'pole' piece selected, because the magnet ex'pends no energy except as it sends its magnetic flux through the one or the otherof the two revoluble pole pleces. Hence I while 7 at one moment any one of the magnets 8, 9, 10, 11,

stantially the same, and is the maximum the magnets used for energizing the pole,

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lllll Iii strength of which the magnet is capable,

other factors being equal. In this connec tion, however, it may be stated that where the number of stationary magnets employed is five, as here shown, the number of mag nets at any particular instant acting upon either of the two pole pieces 42 or 43 is either oneor two. One magnet may act upon the pole piece 42 while two magnets act upon the pole piece '43, or one magnet may act upon the pole piece 43 while two magnets act upon the pole piece 42- Again, at a particular moment two magnets may act upon the pole piece 42 while two other magnets are acting upon the pole piece 43. Thus for a given number of magnets, a consioerable number of positions can be conferred upon the motor armature and consequently upon the pointer 44. .VVith five magnets, the motor armature and pointer can be given twenty determinate positions, and thus twenty distinct indications can be made.

The end plate 7 has the form of a spider with five legs, as may be understood from Figure 4. The distance from any one mag net to any other magnet, measured through "the spider 7, has always the same length.

Hence the magnetic flux from one magnet to another, through the end plate, is always the same. As a result it follows that the magnets are always of equal strength, so that the various positions and movements of the pointer are rendered reliable and certain. 1

I will next describe the system ofthe circuits for controlling the difierent magnets.

Suppose, first, that the transmitting switch 51 is in the position indicated in Figure 4, the pins 72 and 73 engaging the sec tors 56 and 55. and the pins 70, 71 engaging the single sector 53.

A circuit may now be traced, as follows lead 74, wire 76, contact ring 65, to sector 69; here the'circuit divides, a portion passing through the pin 72, sector 56, wire 50,

, magnet 12, wires 61, 63, 62,58, winding 9,

wire 47, sector 53, pins 70 and 71, sector 68, pin 66, contact ring 64, wire 77, lead 75, source of electricity (not shown), and back to lead 74; also, from the sector 69, where the circuit divides as stated, through pin 73,

sector 55, wire 49, magnet 11, wires 60, 63, 62, 58, magnet 9,.wire 47 sector 53, pins 70 and 71, sector 68, pin 66, contact ring 64, wire 77, lead 75 to source of electricity (not shown), and back to lead 74. The circuits just traced have the effect of energizing the three magnets 9, 11 and 12, the magnet 9 having a polarity different from that of the two magnets 11 and 12. Hence, the two pole pieces 32 and 33 act upon the pole piece 43 carried by the armature, and the pole piece acts upon the polepiece 42, carried by the armature, The two pole pieces 27 and 28, though excited, have nothing to work on,

as the pole piece 42, carried by the armature, is too far away from, them to be afiected by them; and the pole piece is also idle, because f its distance from the pole piece 43. The armature of course takes up a determinate position, under control of the magnets 9, 11, 12.

If we assume the switch 51 to be diametrically reversed, so as to bring the pins 7 and 72 into contact with the single sector 53 and the pins 70, 71 into contact with the sectors 55, 56 respectively, it is clear that the same out of contact with the sector 53 and into contact with the sector 54; or in other words that the revoluble member of the switch is turned to a slight extent in a clockwise direction. Since the connections for sectors 53, 55 and 56 remain unchanged, the" magnets 9, 11 and 12 remain undisturbed; but the contact of the pin 71 wi h the sector 54 establishes an additional circuit, which may be traced as follows: lead 74, wire 76, contact ring 65, pin 67, sector 69 to the two pins 72 and 73, where the circuit divides above described and passes in parallel through two sectors 56 and two wires 50 and 49, two magnets 12 and 11, and two wires 61 and 60, thence through wire 63, wire 59, magnet 10, wire 48, sector 54, pin 71, sector 68, pin 66, contact ring 64-, wire 77, lead 75 to source of electricity, (not shown), thence back to' lead 74. This circuit energizes the magnet 10 so as to give it the same polarity as that of the magnet 9, this polarity being contrary to the common polarity of the two magnets 11, 12. \Vith the four ma fnets 9, 10, 11,12 magnetized as just described, the i'novabie pole piece 43 is attracted by the two stationary pole pieces 32 and 33, and the movable pole piece 42 is attracted by the two stationary pole pieces and 26. Hence the armat-ure and the pointer carried by it are turned slightly, into a new position.

Suppose, next, that beginning with the switch 51 in the position shown, the switch be so actuated as to disengage the pin 70 from the sector 53 and bring it into contact with the sector 52. For this purpose, the revoluble member of the switch turned slightly, in a contra-clockwise direction. The result is that the magnets 9, 11, 12 remain energized as before, but in addition the magnet 8 is also energized, its polarity being i like that of the magnet 9, and thus contrary by it are moved slightly, in. a contra-clockwiseodirection, and assume a newposition accordingly. i L

As the switch arm or revoluble member of the switch 51 is turnedin either of two direc tions, the various contact pins are each brought into and out of contact with the different sectors 52, a l, 56. Each time any one of thepins moves either into or out or engagement with-one or the sectors, some one or" the magnets is either ener-f gized or (lQl16lg'lZ6Cl, thetotal number energizc-d at any particular moment being either three or tour. i

Thus by various combinations and permutations in the selective aggroupmentot' the magnets as energized and de -energized, and in the polarity of. the diiterent magnets ot the various groups, a considerable number ot determinate.positions can be conferred upon the revoluble armature and the pointer carried thereby, The nun'iber oi: positions increases with the number ot magnets, and

I call attention to the form of the end plate 7. The shape ct this end plate is what is sometimes desi nated as a round-pointed star. This shape diiiers from a true star shape in that the points are rounded rather than sharp. The advantage of the form is, that itequalizes the length of the various magnetic circuits extending through it as the different magnets are energized from time to time. This is because the distance traversed throughthe end plate, from any magnetto any other magnet, is alwaysthe' same; For instance the magnetic flux pass ing from the magnet .11 to the magnet 9 traverses the same distance as the magnetic flux passing from the magnet 11 to the magnet 12. Therefore the magnets are at all times ap roximately uniform in strength and in their eiiects upon the armature and pointer. Besides, this form for the end plate 7 gives room for the; screws in the base, it any be used.

I do not limit myself anism shown, as variations may be made therefrom without departing from my invention, the scope of which is commensurate with my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An indicator motor provided with an armature having two pole pieces and a winding designed for energization from a remote source of current intermediate the pole pieces to confer a polarity on one of the pole pieces and the opposite polarity on the other, several field members for the armature, each provided with two pole is greatertor an odd number than for an 6 even number.

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to the precise mechpiecesand a winding designed for energization from a remote source of current at one end of eachiieldimember to confer similar polarity on both of its pole pieces.

2. An indicator motor including more than two electro-magnetic members each provided with a singlecoil winding, a particular member beingprovided with a pair of pole pieces both energized to thesame polarity by a coil, and another of the members, designed for rotation with relation to the particular member, being provided with a pair of pole pieces energized to opposite polarities by a coil.

3. An indicator motor inrluding at least three electromagnetic. members each provided with asingle coil winding, at least one of said members being providedwith a pair of pole pieces both e-nergized to the same polarity byits coil, andthe remainder thereof designed "for rotationvwith relation thereto being providedwith apair of pole pieces energized ,to opposite polarities by a coil.

l-Q An indicator motorprovided with an armature having two pole pieces, and a winding designed for energization from a remote source ot' current intermediate the pole pieces to confer a polarity on one of the pole pieces and the opposite polarity onthe other, several field members for the armature, each provided with two pole pieces and winding designed tor fenergization from a remote source of current at one end of each field, member to contersiniilar polarity on both ot itjspole' pieces, and remote manuall-y controlled means for selectively energ zing said wind- 5. An indicator ,motor including more than two electromagnetic members each provided with a single coil w nding, a particular member being provided with a pair of pole pieces both energized to the same polarity by a coil, and anothen ofthe inembers, designed for rotation with relation to the particular member, being provided with a pair of pole piec-es energized to, opposite polarities by a coil, and remote manually. controlled means for selectively energizing said windings.

6. An indicator motor including'at least three electro-magnetic members each providedwith a single winding, at least one, of said members being provided with a pair of pole pieces both energized to the same polarity by its coil, and theremainder thereof designed for rotation with relation thereto being provided with a pair of pole pieces energized to opposite polarities by a coil,

and remote manually controlled means for selectively energizing said windings."

' CHARLES J; HENSGHEL. 

